Rifle’s Chaney signs with Augustana to play baseball

Rifle High School student Takoda Chaney plans to continue his education as well as his baseball career at Augustana College in Illinois.Provided |

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Takoda Chaney, a standout athlete from Rifle High School in Rifle, has announced that he plans on continuing his education as well as his baseball career at Augustana. He will enroll in the fall and plans on being a member of Coach Greg Wallace’s Vikings.

A left-handed pitcher and outfielder, the 6-foot, 180-pound Chaney enters his senior season as a two-year letter winner. In 2016, he hit .341 for Coach Troy Phillips’ 14-6 Rifle club.

Chaney had a big year as a sophomore in 2015, earning the Bears’ Top Pitcher award as well as first team All-Western Slope League honors. He went 3-1 with one save and a 4.20 ERA, completing three of five starts and fanning 31 in 33 1/3 innings. In addition, he hit .486 and stole nine bases.

Chaney was also a two-year letter winner in football. As a junior, he recorded 55 tackles, helping Rifle to a 9-2 record and a CHSAA Class 3A playoff appearance. He earned All-Western Slope honorable mention. As a sophomore, he tied for the team lead in sacks on a Bear squad that finished 12-2 and reached the Class 3A state championship game.

Takoda is the son of Gene and Sharon Chaney of Rifle. During his time at Rifle, he has been a member of three academic state champions. The Bear football team won the award in 2014, and the baseball team was honored for having the highest collective grade point average in the state in 2015 and 2016.

Chaney will be joining a Viking program that claimed CCIW regular season and tournament championships in 2016. Wallace’s teams have posted 19 consecutive winning seasons — including nine of 30 wins or better — and made NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 1999, 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2016. Entering his 20th season as head coach at his alma mater, Wallace has a record of 553-257 (.683).

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